WWE TLC 2012 Results: Dolph Ziggler's Win over John Cena Could Have Meant More

WWE Tables, Ladders & Chairs has come to a conclusion, and Dolph Ziggler left the pay-per-view with a victory over John Cena. What was a career-defining victory should be celebrated healthily by the heel star. But at the end of the day, the Ziggler character didn't progress nearly as much as it could have.

For once, Ziggler's Money in the Bank briefcase took center stage. He was set to defend the briefcase against John Cena in a ladder match.

Ziggler's chance to cash in the briefcase was fresh on the minds of wrestling fans. This created a setting for him to finally make the most of his lucrative opportunity.

Earlier in the night, Big Show defeated Sheamus in a brutal chair match for the world championship. But instead of any extra curricular activity involving steel chairs, the 500-lb. giant retreated to the locker room in an uneventful post-match ceremony.

This meant that, at best, Ziggler would retain his Money in the Bank briefcase. Not the sexiest of headlines.

A chair match presented an opportunity to incapacitate the world champion, which could have led to a cash-in opportunity for Ziggler. But Ziggler was nowhere to be found by match's end.

Ziggler's absence defeated the purpose of a vow made by Ziggler earlier in the night that "everything will change."

After a monumental victory over John Cena, the only thing that changed was AJ Lee's status as a babyface.

Ziggler is still a Money in the Bank holder, and John Cena is still in pre-WrestleMania purgatory.

It was a night that could have seen Ziggler potentially win a world title (remember, the Money in the Bank briefcase can be cashed in any time) only to successfully defend a world title against John Cena.

But for Dolph Ziggler, TLC served as another WWE pay-per-view that delivered the status quo, albeit spectacularly.